HC Deb 27 July 1950 vol 478 cc102-4W
54. Mr. Turton

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received the objections to his proposal to make the whole of the rivers, Test, Itchen and Meon a main river in the Hampshire River Board area; whether he has considered the agreement made by the Minister of Agriculture on this subject on 22nd April, 1942, and the report of Sir William Gavin's Advisory Committee, dated 4th March, 1950, on these rivers; and what action he now proposes to take.

60. Sir G. Jeffreys

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the objections raised to the scheme for defining the whole of the rivers Meon, Itchen and Test as main rivers; and whether he will defer taking any further action, until this matter has been investigated at a public inquiry.

Mr. T. Williams

I have received these objections, which include reference to the agreement and report mentioned. They are still under consideration, and I am not yet able to announce my decision.

63. Mr. Slater

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made in the establishment of river boards.

Mr. T. Williams

Towards the end of 1949 and early this year a series of 30 draft orders was deposited defining river board areas to cover the whole of England and Wales except the Thames and Lee Catchment areas and London. Twenty-three of these Orders have now been made and objections to the remaining seven are under consideration. By the end of this month 17 river boards will have held first meetings. For eight of these boards the appointed day—when they take over their functions relating to land drainage, salmon and fresh water fisheries and the prevention of river pollution—was 1st April last. The appointed day for the remaining nine boards is 1st October next. A further series of first meetings will take place early in 1951. Following are particulars of the areas concerned1. The following eight river boards held first meetings in January or February, 1950, and took over their functions on 1st April, 1950: Severn, Isle of Wight, Avon and Dorset, Somerset, Bristol Avon, Yorkshire Ouse, Hull and East Yorkshire, Kent. 2. The following nine river boards, holding first meetings in June or July, 1950, will take over their functions on 1st October. 1950; Wear and Tees, Cornwall, Devon, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, Northumberland and Tyneside, Dee and Clwyd, North-West Wales. 3. Six further Orders have been made defining the following river board areas: Mersey, Cheshire, Trent, Lincolnshire, Glamorgan, South-West Wales. 4. Objections to the seven draft Orders defining the following river board areas are under consideration: Great Ouse, Wye and Usk, Cumberland, Lancashire, Nene and Welland, East Suffolk and Norfolk. Essex. A public local inquiry has been held in the first two cases and the report of the inspector is being considered.